The 10th anniversary Social Capital Markets conference, will convene leading impact investors, world-class entrepreneurs, and innovative cross-sector practitioners for three full days of networking and engaging content at the intersection of money and meaning. 3p Discount Code: "MP_TriplePundit" [REGISTER HERE]

An event series whose mission it is to bring together companies from around the world to discuss climate change and how they can work together to address it most impactfully. Now building sponsorship and registration. [INFO HERE]

For NI17 we’re creating an experience unlike any conference you’ve been to before. We’ll help you map out your Path to Purpose to turn your passion into a purposeful career by gaining tangible skills and actionable insights. [INFO HERE]

Your responses were very enlightening. Last year’s top vote getters included Yvon Chouinard of Patagonia, George Siemon of Organic Valley Company, Mick Bemans of Ecover and Jeffery Hollender (formerly) of Seventh Generation. In total, voters nominated almost 40 different CEOs covering a range of companies from international corporations to local businesses. Market segments also ran the gamut from clothing, cars and food to household cleaners.

My third observation is a “non-event.” America still lacks a national energy policy. The price at the meter, pump and cash register still fails to reflect the externality cost of pollution and trade imbalances created by imported oil. Like electricity, externality costs always find their path of least resistance into the marketplace and we are seeing this occur in our devalued dollar and the explosion in commodity prices. Brent crude oil is again trading around $100 per barrel, cotton prices are up 100% and gold now trades above $1,300 per ounce. And we continue to ask our best and bravest to pay a high personal price to protect our ability to import oil from the Middle East.

But, arising ever stronger to fill our need for “in me, on me and around me” solutions are companies and entrepreneurs that are offering innovations that are gaining market share traction with a promise of someday soon being price competitive alternatives to our national gluttony for oil, coal, sugar, fat and salt. American car buyers now have a growing number of more environmentally attractive and less oil-intense buying options including next generation hybrids and plug-in electric cars. The Chevy Volt was voted Motor Trend’s car of the year. Even Porsche is now offering hybrids.

So with this “good news, bad news” review I again post this question, “Who among our CEOs should be recognized as leading America into a sustainable future?” Please leave a comment BELOW to make your nomination (you can make more than one). In making your nomination please list the individual’s name, company and why you think they are deserving of recognition. All of your nominations will be publically available for viewing. We will close nominations on March 4th and then I will report back with another article outlining what you told us.

Founder of Earth 2017. Author of The Boomer Generation Diet: Lose Weight. Have Fun. Live More that Jen Boynton, Editor in Chief of Triple Pundit , says is "Written in Bill Roth's lovable, relatable tone. A must read for any Boomer who is looking to jumpstart their health and have fun at the same time. I hope my parents read it. "

Albert Straus, CEO of Straus Family Creamery, is a second-generation dairyman from the rolling hills of Marin County north of San Francisco, Straus is as gentle and soft-spoken as he is persuasive and outspoken, especially on issues near to his heart: land use, sustainable agriculture, humane treatment of animals, and the superior quality of the milk, butter, ice cream and other dairy products the creamery produces.

As CEO, Straus re-introduced America to milk in glass bottles. His business model integrates local family-owned organic dairies providing organic milk directly to the creamery. Albert advocates keeping Marin County GMO-free, and insists that his entire product line carry the Non-GMO Project Verification – the first dairy brand in the United States to be so distinguished. He even produces clean energy made from cow manure, and sells his surplus electricity back to the utility. Most recently he has spoken out against the USDA’s decision to deregulate GE Alfalfa and will continue to fight to have the decision reversed alongside other organic dairy farmers.

Straus Family Creamery is a model of sustainable production. Albert has found a way to run a profitable business that treats the land, animals, consumers, and the community with respect.